Your CV is critical. Consider it an ambassador
for yourself. Do you want it to be dull, poorly written, out
of date and inappropriate? No? There is ample advice available
on the preparation of resumes or CVs, including some excellent
scientist-oriented information in Science's Next Wave site.
To summarise what we think is most important:

your CV should be revamped each
time you apply for a new position, because you will need
to tailor the marketing of your skills and abilities to
each individual job niche,

it should be absolutely professional
in presentation,

and if it is directed at a position
outside traditional science, you will have to be very careful
in the way you present your abilities. Remember that to
a person outside academia, a PhD is an obscure ivory-tower
qualification. They don't know how capable and competant
you really are, you have to tell them!

Her are a couple of fun CVs, to show you
the wrong way and the right way to go about putting your CV
together.